Cheerleaders at Howard University Kneel During National Anthem

It's being called the Kaepernick effect.

After 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the national anthem in protest of police brutality, it sparked a series of silent protests that aim to draw attention to the police violence inflicted disproportionately on African Americans. The silent protest spread to fellow professional athletes, high school football teams, and now, the cheerleaders of Howard University, a historically black college.

As the cheerleaders knelt at a game this weekend, spectators say the Howard football players raised their fists in solidarity. The Howard University cheerleaders' protest comes on the heels of a football game at the University of Pennsylvania last week, where a UPenn cheerleader also made a fist during the national anthem, and another took a knee. The cheerleaders said they were similarly inspired by Colin Kaepernick's message to stand against injustice and inequality in America. Colin has continued to kneel at 49ers games, where he is joined by teammates and rivals alike.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Colin said when the image of him protesting went viral. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

As the peaceful protests have grown, the QB has acknowledged that he can end the movement — but not until change is made.

“I don’t want to kneel forever,” Colin said last week. “I want these things to change. I do know it will be a process, and it is not something that will change overnight. But I think there are some major changes that we can make that are very reasonable.”

Related: [10 Things You Can Do To Help Black Lives Matter End Police Violence(http://www.teenvogue.com/story/support-the-black-lives-matter-movement)